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27 Lessons from 27 Years of Living

As the birthday messages start rolling in from around the world (starting with Australia, thank you!) I can’t help but to reflect on how I got here with friends from all corners of the globe and a career that allows me to travel the world one country at a time.

As with every trip around the sun, it has been a year of ups and downs but to be standing here on the coastline of California with my best friends and a group of incredible people around me, I think it is safe to say that the pros yet again outweigh the cons.

I love taking the time to reflect and express my gratitude each day with a morning and evening journal entry to list what I’m grateful for and what I can do to make my day great. In the same sense, I love taking the time at the end of another year of life and to count my blessings, lessons, and mark another year on earth. Here’s my 27 lessons from 27 years of living – I’d love to hear in the comments below which of these resonate with you!

1. You see what you choose to see

All perception is a choice.

2. Love comes in many forms

Friendships, family, romance, pets, hobbies, skills… all are forms or expressions of love. The more you seek, the more you gain.

3. Be whole in yourself, anything on top of that is icing on the cake

As I settle in to my late 20’s single and still solo travelling, I know that I’d rather be happy and whole on my own rather than seeking for someone to fill a space or a void. You should be enough on your own.

4. Persistence is what determines success

The one thing separating actual success and a desire for it is persistence. There are few cases where you fumble upon success – it’s a process, it takes time and it takes years to create an “overnight success”.

5. When everything is amazing, ride the wave

One thing we humans tend to do is self sabotage. When everything in your life is going great, enjoy every single second of it. Don’t look for what will happen to take any of that happiness away from you or create it yourself.

6. Family is forever

Now on the other side of the world and back to a place where adventures fill my soul, there is only one thing I miss about home and it is my supportive family. While friendships come and go and relationships fade, family will always be forever.

7. Accept that you know nothing for sure

The more we learn the less we know.

8. Don’t be afraid to enter through the back door

Being successful often means going through the back door or even creating a new door for yourself. Thinking outside of the box is just the beginning – you’ve got to be willing to push through the noise and forge your own path.

9. Make your 20’s your best years

The last 7 years have been full of so much laughter, adventures, sunrises and sunsets across the globe that at times like these when I stop to think about it, it is hard to believe that this is my life. Your 20’s should be full of adventures, new friends, and so much smiling your face hurts. Make it wild.

10. If you don’t love what you do every day, do something else instead

I’m a firm believer in the saying if you love what you do and do what you love, you will never work a day in your life. Contrary to that: if you don’t love what you do, change it.

11. Take your work seriously but never yourself

There’s something to be said about the balance of how seriously you should take life/yourself. I think this one hits the nail on the head: take your work seriously but never yourself.

12. It’s never too late to start again

It is never too late to start again (in your career, in a relationship, or in your life’s direction). Each day is a brand new beginning and you are the driving force behind your life’s direction.

13. It’s cool to be kind

In a world that can at times be cruel, be kind. There’s nothing to lose and everything to gain by being kind to people.

14. You won’t always be alone, so enjoy the solitude

I’m so in love with my alone time that I often think I could see out the entirety of my life in a cabin in Northern Europe ~ writing poetry books through the winter and taking a boat around the lake all summer. But the truth is we won’t always be alone, so enjoy your solitude while you can.

15. Avoid negative people like the plague

I love meeting new people around the world and it might be the single reason I never want to stop moving and exploring. Negative people however, have no place in your heart.

16. Congratulate others on their success

This is another “nothing to lose everything to gain” type scenario whereby you have the power to make someone’s day with the power of your words – so why not do it more often.

17. Curiosity over complacency

The one trait I never want to shake is my curiosity. Always ask why or why not and always be open to learning about the world around you – there’s only one lifetime so you might as well take the most from it.

18. Travel brings love back in to your life

Go far and go often.

19. Sing in the car and on road trips with friends

There are few little moments in life that bring me as much joy as belting out a banger in the car en route to the beach, desert or countryside. Take a hold of these little moments and inject them in to more of your days.

20. A grateful heart is a magnet for miracles

Every day list what you are grateful for and you’ll notice more of it will come your way. The law of attraction.

21. Forgive. Forgive. Forgive. And even when it is hard, try to forget

Not everyone will be a positive memory when they leave but the only way forward for you is to forgive and eventually, forget.

22. Think before you speak

Words are powerful ~ even more so when they aren’t nice.

23. You can’t pray too much

There’s a higher power ~ say thanks, be grateful, be kind and be connected.

24. Know your worth

One of the best lessons my friend Jasmina taught me around five years ago was to know what you don’t want as much as what you do want. Know your worth and accept no less.

25. Write it down on paper

Lists, journals and drawings are just a few ways I make sense of the noise in my head and distinguish a good idea from a great one.

26. Community is key

They say you are a product of the four people closest to you, so choose wisely. Build a community of friends around you that will lift you up when you need it and share in your successes as you will theirs. This life is nothing if not shared.

Well done. Honestly I clicked through from Instagram thinking this would be a bunch off fluff. I resonate with MUCH of what you’ve shared but the nearest and dearest are taking every opportunity to be kind and the power of words. Especially mean ones. Thanks for the fresh air and keep digging deep! Happy Birthday traveler!!

I am so happy to have stumbled upon your blog!! I recently started one and don’t really know what I’m doing with it at the moment lol!!! September is my birthday month too!! I do have a question for you – do you write each one of your blog posts for SEO or just some? I finally figured out SEO and I want to write so many posts! Thanks so much :)) You’re very inspiring.

I started noting down the points that resonated with me and ended up with a long list. I will just restrict myself to say that how truly I appreciate your blog and checking for new posts is one of the first things I do after reaching office early morning. EVERY DAY!
Have a super duper amazing 27th! And here’s to another year of beautiful experiences for you.

I absolutely agree with all of these. I also turned 27 this year {happy birthday by the way} and I am always amazed at how much I learn with each passing birthday. My 20’s have been such a magical, awful, wonderful, messy roller coaster and I wouldn’t have it any other way. #2 was always hard for me to understand, but it’s so very true. We tend to focus on the love story we see in the movies, but love comes in so many forms. My friendships have become some of my greatest stories of love and kindness. So fulfilling x

This way such a beautiful post Brooke and I love how all these lessons you included were ones I’ve never seen before on any other posts similar to this one. By this I can really tell how much these things have impacted your life for the better and why I should start following them now. Although all are incredibly importantly, the first one stands out in particular – not sure if that’s why you chose to put it first or not 😉 I believe if you choose to see the good in any situation you will find it. If you always think negatively and never try to find a bright answer anytime, it’s no wonder things aren’t going as planned! All perspectives are important and it’s vital to embrace every aspect of something all the way from the good to the bad so you know you have really lived it! Happy, happy birthday lovely!

Wise beyond your years! These are definitely things I had wish I had known much earlier than 28 but am glad I know them now. Number 20 is a little something I whisper to myself every morning. Happy 27th Birthday Lady! I hope its magical 🙂

Thank you for the birthday wishes Kirsty! And I’m sure you had already realised it, just needed to read it and have that “aha” moment! Sending lots of love and courage to go out there and chase those dreams 🙂 xx

Dear Brooke,
firstly: happy birthday and all the best this world has to offer
I follow your journey for quite some time now (I started wearing hats because of you) and it’s amazing how your articles changed.
This one really resonates with me …
I definetelly need to work on #4 and #10. And #13 is my everyday goal. I will start with #25, and I’m struggling with #26, like a lot. However #18 rocks and if nothing works, I’ll do just that – that’s where I feel most alive and happy.
Stay as positive and kind as you are and good luck. xx

This is such an inspiration for me! All of these are so relevant – especially #1. I have been needing some sort of guidance and reassurance since I recently turned 26 and these lessons have certainly made all the difference.